Nigeria Prepare for Young Squad Clash with Russia Amid Injury Crisis

The Super Eagles head into a friendly against Russia on Tuesday with a heavily depleted roster, forcing coach Eric Chelle to rely on a squad whose average age is just over 22 years. A wave of withdrawals, injuries and residency issues has stripped the team of many of its established internationals, leaving Chelle to blend a handful of senior pros with a crop of uncapped teenagers.

Team News and Withdrawals

Captain Wilfred Ndidi was ruled out after sustaining a knock during Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying loss to Guinea‑Bissau. He is joined on the sidelines by Raphael Onyedika, Bright Osayi‑Samuel, Ridwan Abdulrasaq Popoola and Moses Usor, all withheld by their clubs. Usor, who scored on his debut against Madagascar, was asked to fill a gap but LASK FC prevented his travel.

Additional absences include Basel defender Victory Akpe (injury) and Suleiman Mubarak, who could not travel due to a residency permit problem. Collectively these omissions leave Chelle with just 18 available players.

Squad Overview

Of the 18 players called up, 12 are under 22 and 13 are 22 or younger. Eight are 20 or younger and four are still teenagers, giving the squad an average age of approximately 22.3 years. Nine of the players have never earned a senior cap, and a further three have fewer than two international appearances.

Despite the youth, a few experienced heads remain: Stanley Nwabali in goal, Moses Simon (set to captain and make his 102nd appearance), returning forward Kelechi Iheanacho and Akor Adams. Chelle admitted the situation is largely circumstantial, noting that the original 24‑man squad already featured a significant number of newcomers before the withdrawals.

Projected Starting XI

• GK: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa)
• DF: Abdullahi Bewene (FC Banik Ostrava, Czechia), Benjamin Fredrick (Brentford FC, England), Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Isaac James (Alverca FC, Portugal)
• MF: Stephen Michael (Vendsyssel FF, Denmark), Igor Wilfred (Kristiansund FC, Norway), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Moses Simon (Paris FC, France)
• FW: Akor Adams (Venezia FC, Italy), Kelechi Iheanacho (Bursaspor FC, Turkey)

Coach’s Expectations

Chelle insists that the lack of experience and the recent 2‑0 loss to Guinea‑Bissau will not alter his demands for intensity and aggression.

“The last game we lost that game because the intensity of our team was not good, the aggressivity too. So tomorrow, it will not be the same game. We play against a Russia team, they put a lot of intensity when they don’t have the ball, a lot of aggressivity. So I can predict that we will have a lot of intensity in my team. At the end, I want to see a good game.”

Eric Chelle

Moses Simon echoed the sentiment, stating the squad traveled to Russia to win, not to lose.

Historical Context: Nigeria in Russia

Tuesday’s match will be Nigeria’s sixth senior international on Russian soil and the first played in Nizhny Novgorod. The nation’s record in Russia stands at two wins, one draw and two losses from five previous encounters:

• Nov 2017: 4‑2 win over Argentina (Krasnodar) – Iheanacho opened the scoring.
• Jun 2018: 2‑0 loss to Croatia (Kaliningrad) – World Cup group stage.
• Jun 2018: 2‑0 win over Iceland (Volgograd).
• Jun 2018: 2‑1 loss to Argentina (St. Petersburg).
• Oct 2023: 1‑1 friendly draw with Moscow (Luzhniki).

Only Iheanacho and Simon remain from the 2017 victory that featured Alex Iwobi’s two goals and debutant Brian Idowu.

Looking Ahead

The friendly offers Chelle a chance to evaluate teenagers who could form the core of the next Super Eagles cycle after Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. With the squad heavily weighted toward youth, the match against Russia will serve as both a test of character and a showcase for the emerging talent that may carry Nigeria forward in future African and global competitions.

Ultimately, the Super Eagles will seek to translate the coach’s demand for intensity into a positive result, using the occasion to build confidence among a group of players eager to prove themselves on the international stage.

Sports, Football, Nigeria, Russia, International Friendlies, Youth Squad, Coach Eric Chelle, Moses Simon, Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers, World Cup 2026 Qualifying